How much time should be spent on a specific drill?

PocketSpeed11

PocketSpeed11

AzB Long Member
Silver Member
This might be a hard question to answer because I'm sure various drills to deserve varying times, but how much time should be spent on average for a specific drill during a practice session?

I have typically been doing a specific drill for a half-hour, but I wonder if it would be of more benefit to stretch them out to an hour.

And just so there is no confusion with the question, I do multiple drills each practice session. I'm just wondering what would (roughly) be the optimal time spent on each one.

Thanks in advance.
 
Time on drills?

PocketSpeed11 said:
This might be a hard question to answer because I'm sure various drills to deserve varying times, but how much time should be spent on average for a specific drill during a practice session?

I have typically been doing a specific drill for a half-hour, but I wonder if it would be of more benefit to stretch them out to an hour.

And just so there is no confusion with the question, I do multiple drills each practice session. I'm just wondering what would (roughly) be the optimal time spent on each one.

Thanks in advance.
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It's not like one size fits all. Some people lose focus when doing drills for more than a few minutes, others can do them much longer.
If you really love the game, you should be able to enjoy drills as well, how much you put into each should depend on how well you execute each action.
Drill as long as you feel good doing it. If you do your drill without flaw for a while and then start to "lose it", you may have worked too long on that drill. I good idea is to vary the length of drills, in my opinion.
 
The normal length of time to focus on doing one thing is about 15 minutes.
Repeat this 2-3 times a day with down time in-between.

randyg
 
randyg said:
The normal length of time to focus on doing one thing is about 15 minutes.
Repeat this 2-3 times a day with down time in-between.

randyg
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Wish someone had told me that a long time ago.

I don't mind doing drills but I've always thought a person had to keep plugging away but it's that plugging away that keeps me from working drills.

There have been times when I would spend 2-3 hours on one drill, get mad enough to snap my cue, remember how much that cue cost me, put it away, then walk away feeling the blood pressure rise while questioning myself of it's all worth this kind of hassle.

No one ever said a little at a time then take a break.
 
It depends on the type of drill.

Shotmaking, Stroke, or Posistion Drills (using no more than two balls at any given time), I'll do between 10 to 20 shots.

For drills that require certain set ups and use multiple balls, I do about 3 to 5 sets.


I always try to take a break in between drills and play a few racks of 9 ball or 14.1
 
Even I remember being told about the 15-20 minute practice routine.

Don't buy it though, never did, never will. You can only focus or concentrate for 15-20 minutes at a time????? Another classic...:grin-square:

DCP
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attention_span

Attention span, as measured by sustained attention, or the time spent continuously on task, varies with age. Older children are capable of longer periods of attention than younger children.[3]
For time-on-task measurements, the type of activity used in the test affects the results, as people are generally capable of a longer attention span when they are doing something that they find enjoyable or intrinsically motivating.[2] Attention is also increased if the person is able to perform the task fluently, compared to a person who has difficulty performing the task, or to the same person when he or she is just learning the task. Fatigue, hunger, noise, and emotional stress reduce time on task. Common estimates for sustained attention to a freely chosen task range from about five minutes for a two-year-old child, to a maximum of around 20 minutes in older children and adults.[2]
After losing attention from a topic, a person may restore it by taking a rest, doing a different kind of activity, changing mental focus, or deliberately choosing to re-focus on the first topic.
 
Focused Time

DrCue'sProtege said:
Even I remember being told about the 15-20 minute practice routine.

Don't buy it though, never did, never will. You can only focus or concentrate for 15-20 minutes at a time????? Another classic...:grin-square:

DCP
Click to expand...

Classic? There is a whole lot of science behind this. Consider the fast benefits of "interval" training. The body and mind are tied together. Apply the same to practice for pool. The "average" amount of time a person can provide deliberate focus is 15 to 20 min, but there are some people that can focus and benefit from longer periods of practice as there are some that need even smaller time frames. Everything should be tailored individually, but at least start out with known bench marks then go from there. You may be on the edge of the curve and can take marathon sessions of drilling. I know most can not. Even in "play" mode I see performance degradation in a lot of people after half an hour.

I posted a similar response in another thread earlier today. I too consider my "practice" routines to be a lot longer than 15-20 minutes, but in reality, they are just that. 20 min max drilling on a specific subject or series of shots, then I break it up with something else. Rotation games or focused play where I intentionally try to integrate what I was previously drilling on into my session. Then, I go work on another drill or "intensive" study.... then play again (or take a break and come back later).

Now only if I could convince my executive management that people are effective 4 hours out of an 8 hour work day... ;)
 
I wonder about these studies that get spread around in places like 'Psychology Today', then are picked up by various authors and then wind up in text books, and so-on. Suddenly they're accepted as statements of fact.

We learn new things every day about the mind and how it works. I know for a FACT that many times I've gotten engrossed in working on something in my game at the table, and the next thing I know, 1 or even 2 hours have passed.

Many years ago, my boyfriend practiced for 9 hours straight. I had three meals before he was done.

Another FACT is if I try to force myself to do something I don't want to do, I'm distracted after 5 minutes.

You couldn't pay me to set up a drill and do it over and over. I don't like drills and they won't hold my focus for more than 5 minutes at a time.
 
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FranCrimi said:
I wonder about these studies that get spread around in places like 'Psychology Today', then are picked up by various authors and then wind up in text books, and so-on. Suddenly they're accepted as statements of fact.

We learn new things every day about the mind and how it works. I know for a FACT that many time's I've gotten engrossed in working on something in my game at the table, and the next thing I know, 1 or even 2 hours have passed.

Many years ago, my boyfriend practiced for 9 hours straight. I had three meals before he was done.

Another FACT is if I try to force myself to do something I don't want to do, I'm distracted after 5 minutes.

You couldn't pay me to set up a drill and do it over and over. I don't like drills and they won't hold my focus for more than 5 minutes at a time.
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Ms. Crimi,

I tend to agree. Time flies when you're having fun & drags like the Rock Of Gibralter when you're forced to do something you don't like to do. I think there is less benefit from pratice that one does not want to do. I've seen it in other sports from the ages of 5 to 18. Making it fun is a challenge, but the benefits come quicker & are more enthrenched, at least IMO.

I've never done any structured pool drills. I've only worked on what I thought I did not execute sufficiently for a short time to satisfy myself that it was not anything to worry about. Then it was back to playing & having fun.

Playing against oneself or the ghost for 3, maybe 4 hours is what I consider some of the best practice. Shoot the last ball with the same intensity as the first. When you can't do that it's time to force yourself to do it for it a bit longer before taking a break. I know the 20 minute thing is in reference to a repetetive drill. But, most matches last longer than 20 minutes & one had better be able to focus for longer than that. Perhaps the ability to focus is what needs to be trained the most for some.

Best Regards & Wishes,
 
Interest Level is Everything (use web apps too)

The time spent on a drill always depends on the player. Keep in mind the purpose of a drill - to improve a specific skill. Work on a drill as long as it captures your interest.

Stop the drill as soon as you notice yourself just banging the ball. That is the point where your interest level and focus has disintegrated and you will stop learning anything.

At this point, move on to another drill or exercise, assuming you can apply a strong level of interest. If not, you have two options. You may be able to simply take a break and come back with a refreshed attitude. If not, call it a day.

Generally, I tell my beginning students to work on something for no longer than five minutes, then take a short break. They can continue the same drill or work on another, depending on interest level.

I tell all my students to use the Yahoo or Google calendar reminder features to keep a regular practice schedule. A couple of them use smart phone apps as nagging tools.
 
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